Torch Singer (1933)

Directors:

Alexander Hall
George Somnes

Writers:

Grace Perkins (story)
Lenore J. Coffee (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

8 September 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Musical | Drama

Tagline:

The worst woman in New York...sang the best love songs! Lips that had kissed more men than she could remember ...crooned lullabies no one could forget!

Plot:

Sally Trent has an illegitimate child, but cannot support her and gives the baby up for adoption. The father...

Plot Keywords:

Baby | Adoption | Illegitimate Child | Radio | Singer

Cast

Claudette Colbert	...	Sally Trent, aka Mimi Benton
Ricardo Cortez	...	Tony Cummings
David Manners	...	Michael 'Mike' Gardner
Lyda Roberti	...	Dora Nichols
Baby LeRoy	...	Bobby, Dora's Baby at 1 Year (as Baby Le Roy)
Charley Grapewin	...	Andrew 'Juddy' Judson
Sam Godfrey	...	Harry, Radio Announcer
Florence Roberts	...	Mother Angelica
Virginia Hammond	...	Mrs. Julia Judson
Mildred Washington	...	Carrie, Mimi's Maid
Cora Sue Collins	...	Sally at 5 Years
Helen Jerome Eddy	...	Miss Spaulding
Albert Conti	...	Carlotti
Ethel Griffies	...	Agatha Alden

Also Known As:

Broadway Singer

Runtime:

71 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #1379-R, 31 August 1935 for re-release) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

One of over 700 Paramount Productions, filmed between 1929 and 1949, which were sold to MCA/Universal in 1958 for television distribution, and have been owned and controlled by Universal ever since.

Quotes:

Mimi Benton: Well, I'll tell you what happened to her. While you were touring China, she went through hell. It's a nice place, you must go there someday.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Complicated Women (2003) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Give Me Liberty or Give Me Love

A great Claudette Colbert Pre-Code

This 1933 Paramount film, is a sophisticated and greatly acted drama, with the Depression as background and a powerful performance by the great comedienne and actress, Claudette Colbert, as a chic "fallen" woman. I'd even dare to say that this one pleased me even more than that other favorite 1934 tearjerker, "Imitation Of Life".

Awesome Miss Colbert's costumes, designed by the best Hollywood costume designer of all time, Travis Banton, to "showcase" her "conversion", when she turns into the successful "Torch" Singer-Mimi Benton-of the Title.

Great performance by latin-named, but European born, Ricardo Cortez, as Miss Colbert's lover and mentor and a good one too by David Manners, as the rich guy, who "unwantedly" & "unknowingly" disgraced Miss Colbert's life.

Nice acting by beautiful Mildred Washington, who plays Miss Colbert's maid, and "punchy" Lyda Roberti, who plays an earthy woman who befriends Colbert in the beginning of the film. Ethel Griffies, gives a good "nasty" performance, as Manners' stiff-upper-lip, aristocratic, embittered aunt.

Mention apart deserves Charley Grapewin as the mischievous sponsor of Miss Colbert's Radio Show. He delivers some great lines!

I won't add anything more about the plot of the movie, 'cos you oughta watch it for yourselves! A must see for Pre-Code and 1930's film lovers!